Waldo Williams

Waldo (Goronwy) Williams (30 September 1904 – 20 May 1971) was one of the leading Welsh-language poets of the twentieth century. He was also a notable pacifist, anti-war campaigner and Welsh nationalist.

Important events in Williams's life

• 1911 - Moves to Mynachlog-ddu when his father becomes headteacher of primary school.
• 1915 - Moves to Llandysilio, Pembrokeshire when his father is appointed headteacher of primary school.
• 1917 - Attends grammar school at Narberth.
• 1923 - Begins study at University College of Wales, Aberystwyth.
• 1926 - Graduates in English and trains as a teacher.
• 1928 - Begins to teach in at various primary schools in Pembrokeshire.
• 1936 - Publication of Cerddi'r plant (=Poems for children)
• 1941 - Marries Linda Llewellyn.
• 1942 - Moves from Pembrokeshire to teach in north-west Wales.
• 1943 - Linda Llewellyn dies.
• 1944 - Moves to teach at Kimbolton, Huntingdonshire.
• 1946 - Moves to Lyneham, Wiltshire.
• 1949 - Returns to Wales.
• 1950-1953 - The Korean War and resigns from teaching in order to begin a protest of non-payment of income tax against the war. The protest continues afyer the war until the end of compulsory military service in 1963.
• 1953 - Leaves the Baptist church to join the Religious Society of Friends, commonly known as Quakers.
• 1956 - Publication of Dail pren (=The leaves of the tree).
• 1959 - Stands as the Plaid Cymru candidate in the Pembrokeshire constituency at the General Election.
• 1960 - Imprisoned for six weeks for non-payment of income tax.
• 1961 - Imprisoned for a further period for non-payment of income tax.
• 1963 - Resumes teaching at various primary schools in Pembrokeshire.